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This Is Me--2019 A to Z Theme

The Challenge of 2019 was the 10th! Since this was kind of a milestone year for A to Z my theme was a retrospective of sorts, looking at my 10 years as a blogger as well as ruminations about my life as it is and as I hope it yet can be. I've got places to be and people to see along the way. Hope you'll join me for this part of my journey...

Always a work in progress--welcome to my blog.

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Friday, April 19, 2013

Quiet Films ( #atozchallenge )

The films that I'll be listing in my April postings will not necessarily be films that I'd call my favorite films, but they will be favorites in the genres I'll be naming. The A to Z genres are very specific micro genres as opposed to the broader genres like action, romance, or comedy.

When I refer to "Quiet Films", I'm not talking about silent films, but films with sound that don't have much dialog and have a tendency to be more introspective and deal with ideas. Often these films focus on just one person or people who communicate very little. Some of these might be films that could put you to sleep. The films that I have picked kept my attention and stuck in my mind (except for one). Here are some of my favorite "Quiet Films" with a bonus that is not a favorite:

Repulsion (1965) -- High on my list of favorite films, this psychological horror film by Roman Polanski is the story of a troubled and withdrawn young woman who is left by herself while her sister is away on a vacation. Alone in her silent world she falls into a delusional state of fear and hallucinations with horrifying consequences. This is one freaky, creepy movie.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) --Almost ponderous with scenes of stark beauty, this film primarily deals with a man on a long mission to Jupiter. A lot of breathing sounds and people and computers talking verrrry slooooow. The beauty that cannot be expressed in words is replaced by ethereal music.

Silent Running (1972) --It's been a very long time since I've seen this film, but I seem to remember it fitting into the category of quiet films. After all, it takes place in space and it can get pretty quiet up there. And the film is called Silent Running. That does it for me.

Slingblade (1996)-- Billy Bob Thornton does an amazing job in the lead role of this movie. His character is a quiet and reserved mentally impaired man who has been in a mental hospital after committing a murder when he was 12. Some of the people around him are loud, but the over all tone of the film is fairly quiet.

The Tree of Life (2011)--This is one of those meaning of existence movies that deals with philosophy and spiritual issues. It's the kind of film upon which you need to focus and contemplate. You might fall asleep, or you might just sit quietly and take it all in.

Another Earth (2011) -- In this quiet film, a planet identical to Earth appears in the skies, capturing the imagination of the world. The story follows a teenage girl and a composer whose lives become intertwined. It's more of a philosophical film than a science fiction since there's no way this story could realistically happen. But it's an interesting film if you can stay awake through it.

Solaris (2002) --Okay so I intensely disliked this film. But it was quiet. And slow. I went to a theater to see this and my wife and I both slept through most of it. This seemed very odd. Maybe we only thought we were asleep. Whatever happened, the movie seemed extremely boring and quiet. This is not the quiet movie experience that I like to have.

What movies have you fallen asleep to? Do you enjoy idea movies that are more philosophical than action oriented? Can you recommend any films that might fit in the quiet category?

I didn't mind Solaris, although if you want a real snoozefest, watch the original - it's over three hours long!Liked Silent Running, but otherwise there aren't too many slow, quiet movies I like. Closest I can think of are Life of Pi and 2010's Monsters, both of which I really liked.

Other than 2001, I haven't seen any of the movies you recommend. I was supposed to watch Tree of Life last year (as one of my goals to watch all Oscar nominees) but didn't. The three movies I've fallen asleep during were Pokemon, the Tigger Movie, and, I'm ashamed to say, the new Lion, Witch and Wardrobe..

I can't think of any movies at this time, other than the one big snoozer I was bored to tears with and fell asleep and that was The English Patient. My wife "made" me watch that one with her. I'll never get that time back.

I dislike philosophical movies. I want mystery, action, excitement, and even drama.

No, I can't recommend any film, because if I even suspect them of "being in the category" I avoid them.

I have to share my son's experience with movies to fall asleep to. He has rented the documentary 'Earth', I think it's Disney, 3 or 4 times. It's narrated by either James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman. My son says something about the narrator's voice knocks him out in the first 5 minutes every time. He has yet to see this movie all the way through. He's considering purchasing it for nights when he has insomnia

Thanks Arlee for the follow and for the blogger tip. I didn't know how that worked.

Can't think of any film right now. But "Masterpiece: Wallender" w/Kenneth Branagh has a stillness that connects to the artistry of the filming. The desolation of a Swedish landscape, the tortured persona in Wallender, etc. I like the quiet aspect of excellent filming.

You should check out 'Run, Lola, Run'. Had to watch it in film class, thought i'd die before it ended but found myself wanting to watching again a few years later because i had this nagging feeling i had missed something in my senioritis haze of college. Turned out to not be too bad at all.

I'm enjoying the comments. It's interesting how we can have different takes on films. Sometimes it also probably has a lot to do with our moods or how tired we are to begin with. I'll agree that sometimes the narration can drone on enough to become hypnotic.

I have a terrible memory for titles and names, generally, so I can't recall quiet movies to list. I can say that I like quiet, contemplative, make you think movies occasionally. I have to be in the right frame of mind, though. 2001--great film.Jagoda

I've been meaning to watch "Another Earth" I'll be sure to drink some coffee beforehand:) Another film that could be on your list is "Womb" from 2010, very controversial, about cloning - have you seen it?WriterlySam

You missed my favorite quiet movie: The Sixth Sense! I like most of those on the list though. I've never seen Solaris, so maybe that's a good thing. I really like quiet movies, but I also have to be in the mood to watch one. I tend to enjoy any movie that thrives on the *feel* of the situation, especially if it's a creepy feeling. :)

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If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

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A juggler of words and phrases. My main blog is Tossing It Out. The focus blog for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge can now be found at a-to-zchallenge.com where updates will be posted until the event in April begins.
Wrote By Rote is about memoir writing.
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